Journey to the West: Please Call Me the White Bone Demon

Pingdingshan gradually receded into the distance behind us, the twilight like a veil, dyeing the outline of the mountains in varying shades of blue-green.

Yun Zhao and his group continued westward, with several disciples following behind. Some were still savoring the scene from earlier, while others were whispering about the old man riding the blue ox.

Above Pingdingshan Mountain, deep in the clouds, the Five Directions Protectors, the Four Duty Officers, and the Six Ding and Six Jia Guardians are hidden in the clouds, looking down at the Lotus Cave below.

As it was their duty, they secretly protected the pilgrims along the way, daring not to slacken in the slightest.

But what they saw today was quite distressing.

In their sight, the pilgrim Xuanzang was tricked into a cave by the old Taoist priest who was actually the Silver Horned King, and his body was locked up, unable to move.

The Silver Horned King sat smugly in the main seat, ordering his minions to sharpen their knives.

Sun Wukong, the Black Bear Spirit, the Yellow Wind Monster, and Sha Wujing were trapped in a formation outside the cave. They were frantically trying to find a way to break the formation and rescue the trapped people.

"The monkey was captured by the Purple Gold Gourd and suffered a loss under the Golden Rope. Although it has now escaped, it still cannot break through the formation set up by the monster."

The duty officer frowned and said, "Master Xuanzang is just a mortal; I'm afraid he won't last much longer."

One of the Six Ding Jia generals nodded and said, "That monster's magic weapon is truly powerful; even Sun Wukong suffered a loss. Should we try to help them?"

One of the Five Directions Protectors shook his head and said, "No. The tribulations on the journey to the West are predetermined. We are only responsible for secretly protecting them, and we must not interfere unless it is a matter of life and death."

The generals looked at each other, anxious but able only to wait and see, hoping that Sun Wukong and the others would break through the formation.

Little did they know that what they saw was merely a smokescreen that Yun Zhao had casually set up when he subdued the Silver Horn King.

Those divine generals were far inferior to Yun Zhao in cultivation, and faced with his absolute difference in strength, they were simply unable to distinguish between the real and the fake.

What they saw and heard was what Yun Zhao wanted them to see.

Half an hour later, the "Sun Wukong" in the illusion finally found a flaw and smashed the core of the formation with a single blow.

The Black Bear Demon, the Yellow Wind Monster, and Sha Wujing followed closely behind, rushing into the cave. After a fierce battle, the Silver Horn King was subdued, and the Purple Gold Gourd and the Golden Rope were retrieved.

The disciples worked together to rescue the trapped Xuanzang. The master and his disciples packed their belongings, left the Lotus Cave, and continued their journey westward.

Everything in that illusion was perfectly logical and flawless.

Above the clouds, the guardian deities finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The duty officer stroked his beard and laughed, "As expected of the one who wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace! Although that monster's magic weapons were powerful, he was still no match for Sun Wukong's supernatural powers."

The divine general among the Six Ding Jia nodded and said, "In that case, this tribulation can be considered over."

The Five Directions Protector said, "Alright, now that the pilgrim has escaped, let's continue following him."

As they were talking, a lucky cloud suddenly drifted in from the horizon, and on the cloud stood a person, dressed in flowing white robes, with a solemn and dignified appearance. It was none other than the Bodhisattva Jing'e Weiguang Fengxiao.

Upon seeing this, the divine generals quickly stepped forward to pay their respects.

Feng Xiao nodded slightly and asked, "Where are the pilgrims now? This humble monk has come to check on their progress on the journey to the West, as ordered by the World-Honored One."

The duty officer bowed and said, "Reporting to the Bodhisattva, the pilgrims have passed Pingding Mountain and just overcame one difficulty. They are resting on the mountain path ahead."

Feng Xiao nodded, his gaze sweeping over the slowly advancing procession below, and said calmly, "You've worked hard, you may step back for now. This humble monk has something to say to the pilgrims."

The gods dared not ask any further questions, and in unison agreed, each disappearing into the clouds.

Feng Xiao then descended from the clouds and landed on a blue stone beside the mountain path. He straightened his cassock and waited for Yun Zhao to approach before speaking:

"Xuanzang, I am the Bodhisattva Jing'e Weiguang. Today, I have come here on the orders of the World-Honored One, and I have something to say to you."

Yun Zhao, mounted on his horse, listened to the clone's completely different way of speaking. He understood what was going on, but remained calm. He simply reined in his horse and turned to his disciples, saying, "Wait here for a moment while I go and say a few words to that Bodhisattva."

Sun Wukong glanced at the figure ahead and recognized it as Feng Xiao. Without asking any further questions, he carried his golden cudgel to the roadside, squatted on a rock, and listlessly pulled weeds.

The Black Bear Spirit, the Yellow Wind Monster, and Sha Wujing each found a place to sit down and didn't say anything more.

Yun Zhao dismounted and walked up to Feng Xiao, smiling, "Why are you still pretending? Is there something you want to say to me?"

Feng Xiao smiled and said, "Isn't this to maintain my identity? Among your disciples, only Sun Wukong knows who I am. Otherwise, wouldn't the others find it strange?"

Yun Zhao said, "They are all trustworthy. Now they know that I, their master, am quite capable. If anything happens later, there's no need to deliberately avoid them."

Feng Xiao was taken aback: "You've already revealed your cultivation level? What did those divine generals say?"

Yun Zhao laughed and said, "They don't know yet. I used an illusion at the time. In their eyes, I was captured by the Golden Horn and Silver Horn Kings and was only just rescued."

Feng Xiao chuckled twice after hearing this, then whispered, "Brother Yun, you've been traveling very slowly. Tathagata has asked me several times why you haven't reached Pingdingshan yet. I could only say that we encountered some minor setbacks on the way, which delayed us."

"That's why he specifically ordered me to urge you to hurry up. I even brought up the fact that you're going to ask about the Dharma and might not listen to me, but he's determined to have me urge you."

Yun Zhao laughed and said, "There are advantages to taking it slow. Look, didn't Laozi himself deliver himself to our doorstep?"

Feng Xiao raised an eyebrow and asked, "What did that old Taoist priest say?"

Yun Zhao briefly recounted his conversation with Laozi in the small world. Feng Xiao listened and nodded thoughtfully, saying, "That's good. However, it seems that Tathagata's patience is almost running out over Mount Ling. Shouldn't you speed up your pace a bit to avoid arousing his suspicion?"

"Hey, why bother with him? The more he urges me, the slower I'll go." Yun Zhao sneered twice.

Feng Xiao sneered, "If that's the case, then I'm afraid that old Buddha will have to resort to some tricks later."

"Ignore him."

Yun Zhao said calmly, "In the past, I might have had to consider things, but after what Laozi said, we can put our minds at ease. In any case, only the Buddhist sect will be anxious; others won't care."

"As for Buddhism," Yun Zhao scoffed, "the only two I can afford to worry about are the two saints, Jieyin and Zhunti. But unfortunately, as long as they haven't descended to the mortal realm in their true forms, what do I have to fear?"

Feng Xiao thought for a moment and said, "Then what's your opinion?"

Yun Zhao laughed and said, "I'll just walk slowly and see whether it's his Buddhism spreading eastward or my royal civilization spreading westward."

"Alright then." Feng Xiao nodded. I'll go back and try to cover for you some more, but I doubt it will last much longer. You should make plans as soon as possible.